The Tri-City Storm pulled away from the Waterloo Black Hawks, taking the first of two weekend meetings 6-2 on Friday at Viaero Center in Kearney, Nebraska.
Both Waterloo goals came during third period power plays after Tri-City had taken a 4-0 lead to the second intermission.
The Storm scored the only goal of the first period 31 seconds before intermission. August Falloon hit the short side post, sending the puck springing into the opposite circle, where Nolan Roed was waiting to pounce and put a follow-up chance into an open side.
Tri-City doubled the lead less than a minute into the second period; Artemi Nizameyev's rush into the zone and pass across the slot clicked with Philippe Blais-Savoie, who fired a shot into an open side. Falloon redirected another goal on Alex Bales' attempt from the left point at 12:01, then Dallas Vieau added one more from the top of the crease with just over three minutes remaining in the period.
The Hawks broke Cameron Korpi's shutout bid during a power play in the middle of the third. John Mustard was behind the net and set up Griffin Erdman at the top of the crease at 9:41.
However, the Storm left little doubt about the outcome with two goals separated by less than a minute: Nizameyev on a tip at 13:31, then Carmelo Crandall from the bottom of the left circle at 14:22.
Grady Deering produced the last Black Hawks goal early in Waterloo's final advantage. He stuffed in a chance that was trickling toward the goal line as 3:17 remained.
The Hawks and Storm get together again on Saturday Night at Viaero Center; the puck drops an hour earlier at 6:05 p.m.
Waterloo 0 0 2 - 2
Tri-City 1 3 2 - 6
1st Period-1, Tri-City, Roed 6 (Falloon, Lukashevich), 19:29 (PP). Penalties-Frost Wat (hooking), 9:29; Delaney Wat (cross checking), 17:46; Altrichter Wat (roughing), 19:03; Briere Tc (slashing), 19:03.
2nd Period-2, Tri-City, Blais-Savoie 2 (Nizameyev, Lukashevich), 0:48. 3, Tri-City, Falloon 9 (Bales, Roed), 12:01. 4, Tri-City, Vieau 3 (Kinsman, Briere), 16:49. Penalties-Delaney Wat (boarding), 2:59; Kinsman Tc (cross checking), 7:16; Delaney Wat (checking from behind), 13:20; Rozzi Tc (10-minute misconduct), 17:51.
3rd Period-5, Waterloo, Erdman 3 (Mustard, Altrichter), 9:41 (PP). 6, Tri-City, Nizameyev 4 (Roed, Constance), 13:31. 7, Tri-City, Crandell 1 (Posthumus, Lacroix), 14:22. 8, Waterloo, Deering 2 (Delaney), 16:43 (PP). Penalties-McInnis Wat (roughing), 6:07; Kinsman Tc (major-head contact, game misconduct), 6:07; Keohane Tc (cross checking), 16:33; Thoreson Wat (slashing), 19:31.
Shots on Goal-Waterloo 5-9-7-21. Tri-City 11-14-7-32.
Power Play Opportunities-Waterloo 2 / 3; Tri-City 1 / 4.
Goalies-Waterloo, Vachon 5-2-0-0 (32 shots-26 saves). Tri-City, Korpi 8-3-0-0 (21 shots-19 saves).
A-1,160
